Dubai - Emirates Flight Training Academy, has signed an agreement with Cirrus Aircraft and Embraer for order 27 new aircraft.

The order includes 22 single-piston engine Cirrus SR22’s and 5 twin-jet Embraer Phenom 100E, valued at more than $39 million dollars at list prices.

The aircraft, will be delivered starting in 2017, training cadet pilots to become fully-qualified commercial pilots for Emirates. This order will allow Emirates Flight Training Academy cadet pilots to receive, for the first time, 100 percent of their training in Dubai.

Previously, cadet pilots underwent a majority of their training at a variety of locations overseas. In addition to consolidating education into one location in the Middle East, the new aircraft order also ensures cadets will have access to the youngest training fleet in the world.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates executive vice president and chief operations officer, said: “Industry forecasts show growth in the need of pilots particularly over the next few years. The Middle East and the Gulf region will have the highest demand for pilots to support its expansion and introduction of new aircraft.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy is our investment and response to this pressing need. The academy will offer training programs using the latest available technology and advanced aircraft."

"Our decision to purchase these new aircraft for training underscores our commitment to equip the academy, as well as the aviation industry with the infrastructure needed to produce a highly-skilled pilot workforce. While the biggest beneficiary of this program is Emirates, it’s our plan to offer the program to external candidates around the world.”

The Emirates Flight Training Academy will focus on Emirates’ current cadet pilot program for Emirati citizens with future plans for other candidates.

Once accepted into the cadet program, students will be provided on campus accommodation and ground training. After completing this component of their education, they will start in-flight training on the Cirrus SR22 aircraft for the basic commercial piloting skills.

In traditional cadet programs, students move from single-engine piston aircraft to twin-engine piston aircraft before transitioning to jet airplanes. With the Emirates Flight Training Academy, students move from the single-engine piston Cirrus SR22 directly to the jet-powered Embraer Phenom 100E.

This eliminates an extra step in becoming a commercial pilot and gives cadet pilots an enhanced curriculum during single engine training, as well as more experience flying jet aircraft before being trained as an official Emirates pilot. Overall, the program including ground school, flying and simulator training lasts three and a half years.

The Emirates’ approach and dedication to innovative pilot training pairs perfectly with the advanced technology and performance of the Cirrus SR22."

"When a safe and sophisticated aircraft fleet meets safety and sophistication in training, it means we are not only supporting one academy’s programming, we are strengthening the entire infrastructure and network of aviation. It’s an honour to be a part of it.”

“We are pleased to be one of Emirates' key partners by providing them the jet training aircraft adopted to fulfill their future demand for highly skilled professional airline pilots.”

Emirates Flight Training Academy Facility

Each of the newly-ordered aircraft will be based at the Emirates Flight Training Academy facility, which is currently under construction at Al Maktoum International-Dubai World Central (DWC). Once completed, the Academy will be able to accommodate up to 500 cadet pilots at a time.

The facility will include ground school classrooms, ab initio flight training, ground-based simulators, a dedicated runway, maintenance center, housing accommodations for men and women, a gym, football pitch, tennis courts and a mosque. The first phase of construction – which includes the ground training facility and runway – is expected to be completed in 2016, with the remainder of the facility to be completed shortly after.

Embraer Phenom 100E:

The Phenom 100E includes three interchangeable glass displays, smart automation systems and a flight management system with flight planning capabilities.

Each aircraft, valued at $4.8 million at list prices, will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW617F-E engines and capable at flying up to 1,178 nautical miles (2,182 kilometers) in a single journey at speeds of 390 knots (710Km/H) TAS True Air Speed.

The aircraft will be assembled at the Embraer facility in Melbourne, Florida. The Emirates order includes five aircraft, with the option to purchase five more in the future.

Cirrus SR22

The Cirrus SR22 aircraft has a composite airframe; two 12” flight displays; a flight management system keypad controller and an integrated engine indication and crew alerting system. The aircraft has installed an airframe parachute system, that can lower the aircraft to the ground via in an emergency situation.